COVID-19
Cases
Another all-time high: PH records 39,004 new COVID-19 cases
The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday reported 39,004 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of active cases in the country to 280,813.
Inquirer
Omicron cases may double in February: DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) is seeing a community transmission of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the National Capital Region although a peak in the number of cases is not expected until next month.
Philippine News Agency
COVID-19 surge possibly slowing down in Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan; rising in other areas
The surge of COVID-19 cases could be slowing down in Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan but is still in its early stages in several provinces, independent analytics group OCTA Research said Saturday.
Inquirer
Department of Health
Why antigen tests still not included in DOH COVID tallies
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the DOH spokesperson, also stressed on Friday that not all of the positive results from the antigen test data could be considered qualified for inclusion in the official case count.
Inquirer
IATF/NTF COVID-19
Palace to rely on house-to-house vaccination of elderly, people with comorbidities
The government is counting on house-to-house campaigns to vaccinate senior citizens and other persons vulnerable to COVID-19 especially those who are living outside the National Capital Region Plus.
Philstar
PNP starts crackdown on fake vax cards
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched a crackdown against the manufacture and use of fake vaccination cards amid the government’s decision to contain the movement of the unvaccinated individuals.
Manila Bulletin
Regions
Luzon including NCR
LRT-1 starts free random COVID-19 antigen tests for passengers
The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) will provide the random testing for passengers who will give their consent or volunteer for testing, the DOTr said.
Inquirer
Metro Manila mayors won’t reimpose curfew, for now – MMDA
Because many Filipinos are “self-regulating” when it comes to leaving their homes amid the COVID-19 surge, mayors in the capital region have agreed not to reimpose a general curfew, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Benhur Abalos Jr. said on Saturday, January 15.
Rappler
Visayas
Negros Occidental’s top hospital limits pediatric admissions to emergencies
The hospital's COVID-19 unit for children nears full capacity as Bacolod City's daily positivity rate climbs from 34.25% on January 10 to 63.49% on January 14
Rappler
Mindanao
In Zamboanga City, “No RT-PCR, No Entry” policy reimposed
The Task Force COVID-19 here has reimposed the ‘No RT-PCR, No Entry’ policy for all inbound travelers here starting Sunday, January 16, due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.
MindaNews
Region 12 COVID-19 cases: from just 4 on January 1 to 154 on January 13
Region 12 logged 154 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases as of Thursday evening, January 13, a gigantic leap of 3,750 percent from just the four cases recorded on the first day of 2022, records showed.
MindaNews
CDO imposes ‘no vax, no entry’ in malls and markets as COVID-19 cases surge
COVID-19 cases here breached the 100-mark on Friday, prompting officials here to implement a “No Vaccine, No Entry” policy in the city’s malls and markets, and order the removal of basketball rings in the barangays.
MindaNews
Acosta assumes post as Minda chair January 17
FORMER Davao City councilor and newly appointed Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) Chairperson Mabel Sunga Acosta is set to assume her position on Monday, January 17, 2022.
Sunstar
World
North Korea tests railway-borne missile amid rising tension with US
North Korea tested a railway-borne missile in its firing drills on Friday, state media KCNA said on Saturday, January 15, amid the United States’ push for fresh sanctions against the isolated state following its recent series of weapons tests.
Rappler
Canadian foreign minister to visit Ukraine, vows to deter Russian aggression
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly will visit Kyiv next week to reaffirm support for Ukrainian sovereignty and reinforce efforts to deter “aggressive actions” by Russia, Ottawa said on Saturday, January 15.
Rappler
China reaffirms opposition to US sanctions on Iran
China reaffirmed its opposition to unilateral sanctions by the United States against Iran during a meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart, while backing efforts to revive a 2015 nuclear deal between major powers and Iran.
Rappler
Japanese students injured in stabbing during entrance exams – media
Several high school students sitting their university entrance exam in Tokyo were wounded on Saturday, January 15, in an apparent knife attack, Japanese media said.
Rappler
UK government promoted firm at center of alleged Chinese influence operation for years
The British government had been directing investors towards the law firm run by a woman accused by the country's own intelligence service of political interference on behalf of China for years, documents from its trade department show.
CNN Philippines
US intelligence indicates Russia preparing operation to justify invasion of Ukraine
The US has information that indicates Russia has prepositioned a group of operatives to conduct a false-flag operation in eastern Ukraine, a US official told CNN on Friday, in an attempt to create a pretext for an invasion.
CNN Philippines
Incidents and Violations
Editorial, Analysis, Opinion and Features
Senate to elect new leader
I agree with the plan to elect a new “independent” Senate president from among these holdover senators elected in 2019 whose six-year term will expire on June 30, 2025
Inquirer
Role of surveys in elections
Just how reliable are pre-election surveys, and do they do more harm than good in shaping public opinion?
CNN Philippines
Who’s got solid plans for PH?
I visited the official websites of the serious presidential candidates—Vice President Leni Robredo, Sen. Ping Lacson, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Bongbong Marcos—the names are listed in the order of their current official status.
Inquirer
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
AUDIT, GRAFT, AND CORRUPTION
BUDGET, FINANCE, and TAXATION
BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND INVESTMENT
BUILD, BUILD, BUILD and PUBLIC WORKS
DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
DEFENSE AND SECURITY
Armed Forces of the Philippines
Philippine National Police
EDUCATION
DepEd: Class suspension amid Covid-19 surge is up to LGU, local school officials
The Department of Education (DepEd) 7 has left the discretion to suspend modular distance learning classes to the 19 schools division offices (SDO) and the local government units (LGUs).
Sunstar
ELECTION RELATED
18-year-old arrested for gun ban violation in Muntinlupa
Police arrested an 18-year-old male for illegal possession of a firearm and violation of the gun ban in Muntinlupa City on Friday night, Jan. 14.
Manila Bulletin
'E-rally' page bubuksan ng Comelec sa Pebrero
Bubuksan ng Commission on Elections sa Pebrero ang "E-rally" page sa Facebook na layong bigyan ng patas na pagkakataon ang mag kandidato na mailahad ang kanilang plataporma at maabot ang mga botante.
ABS-CBN News
Mga naarestong lumabag sa election gun ban, umabot na sa 76
Batay sa PNP, nakumpiska sa mga naturang violator ang 12 firearms, 148 ammunition, at isang deadly weapon. Ang mga lumabag sa gun ban ay mula sa Sorsogon, Davao de Oro, La Union, Bulacan, Lanao del Sur, Abra, Negros Occidental, Batangas, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, at Taguig.
RMN Networks
Incidents
INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
As global temperatures continue to rise, climate anxiety will be a growing issue for young people, therapists warn
Jon Reeves first realized that treating climate anxiety would become a regular part of his job in 2016. He was then working in Massachusetts as a student counselor at Boston College, and the country was about to elect noted climate-change denier Donald Trump to the highest office in the land.
Yahoo News
JUDICIARY
Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
Sandiganbayan
Municipal/Regional Trial Courts
LABOR
LEGISLATIVE
Senate of the Philippines
Drilon to Congress: Pass critical laws in the remaining 10 session days
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Saturday, January 15 pressed Congress to move swiftly in the remaining 10 session days to pass critical laws that could hasten the country’s economic recovery, address the proliferation of troll accounts, address franchise woes, and expand protection for solo parents before going on recess again for the 2022 national and local elections.
Manila Bulletin
House of Representatives
Lower House lockdown lifted on Jan. 17 for resumption of regular sessions
Regular sessions will resume on Monday, Jan. 17 in the House of Representatives after the leadership decided to no longer extend the two-week lockdown it imposed as part of precautionary measures against the spread of COVID-19 infection.
Manila Bulletin
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)
OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FOREIGN RELATIONS
West Philippine Sea
Ex-PH top diplomat backs US study challenging China's maritime claims
Del Rosario, who chairs local think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, said the study - called Limits in the Seas No. 150 - "draws heavily from the 2016 Arbitral Ruling won by the Philippines in The Hague against China."
CNN Philippines
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Agri workers dismayed over gov’t directive to produce crops for export
In a statement, Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura Chairperson Antonio Flores responded to the issue saying that, “the Department of Agriculture is desperate to starve farmers and agricultural workers. If they continue to push farmers to plant high-value crops (HVCs) that the country can export overseas, the Filipinos will only harvest hunger.”
Bulatlat
GENDER
HOUSING and SETTLEMENT
POVERTY
SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT
TRANSPORTATION
Local airlines to start implementing 'no vaccination, no ride' policy on Jan. 17
Unvaccinated people wanting to travel to and from Metro Manila will be barred from taking domestic flights beginning Monday, Jan. 17, with the implementation of the controversial "no vaccination, no ride" policy.
CNN Philippines
TOURISM
WATER and ENERGY
#NoFilter: Heavy siltation turns river, coastal waters to orange
Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis) Executive Director Mark Peñalver told SunStar Davao that residents attributed the incident to a mining operation in the area.
Sunstar
Iberdrola enters Philippines market
The projects have wind energy service contracts awarded to Triconti by the Department of Energy (DOE). These project sites, located in shallow waters off the coast of areas in Luzon and the Visayas, are the first offshore wind service concessions awarded in the country.
Philstar
Magat Dam to generate power for May 9 polls
The Magat Dam in northern Luzon will release water for power generation from March 5 to May 9 to help boost the available power supply for the coming national automated elections.
Philippine News Agency
Brewing summer of our discontent
IN March 2019, some 10,000 households across the National Capital Region (NCR) experienced the worst water supply shortage in decades.
Business Mirror
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